What do therapists expect of you?

Members of the 1-800-Therapist Network expect their patients to understand what they are in search of, when would they like to begin therapy and how will each therapy sessions be paid for. All patient - provider conversations are private and will never be discussed with a third-party.

 

  1. Show up on time for appointments. Unlike other doctors that may keep you waiting for an appointment or that may accept you even if you show up late, a therapist has a specific hour set aside for you. If you are late, then you are missing out on time that was reserved for you.
  2. The therapist has no obligation to make the session run late because you showed up late. Most likely the therapist will have another client waiting to start at the beginning of the next hour. The therapist should not take phone calls or attend to any business other than yours during your therapy session.
  3. Cancel appointments in advance so the therapist can reschedule (usually 24 to 48 hours). Usually therapists charge the full fee for missed appointments that are not canceled in advance because you are paying for the therapist's time that was allotted for you. Insurance will not pay for missed appointments.
  4. Share your perceptions and feelings as openly and honestly as you can. This involves taking the risk of sharing your deepest fears and concerns--this will help you to make progress quickly.
  5. Actively work on your issues with your therapist. Some people come into therapy with the attitude: "I'm here, now fix me", when in actuality the process has to be one of both of you working together.
  6. Complete any homework which was assigned. (Homework is designed to help the benefits of therapy to extend beyond the therapy hour).
  7. Think about and reflect on your therapy between sessions. Be ready to discuss thoughts that you have about the previous sessions or any insights that have come to you since your last session with the therapist. You may even want to start keeping a journal of your experiences. If you have tried but can't come up with any thoughts about the therapy, that is understandable.
  8. Discuss with the therapist when you feel that you are finished with therapy BEFORE actually stopping. If you follow these guidelines, you are not only living up to the expectations of therapy, you are also putting yourself in the best position to get the most out of the experience.

 

Source: 1-800-Therapist
Review Date: June 26, 2010
Reviewed by: Barb Hansen BScMLT